Value of Test: this test is used to investigate acute
and chronic inflammatory
condition in which there is alteration
of he normal concentration
in plasma proteins e.g In pulmonary tuberculosis
Method: Westergreen method
Principle:
When
citrate blood in a vertically positioned
westergreen is left to stand undisturbed, red cells aggregate, stack
together to form rouleaux and
sediment through the plasma in a
westergreen
tube at room temperature.
The erythrocyte sedimentation rate l at which
sediments occurs in 1 hour as indicated by the length
of column of clear plasma above. The
red cells, measured in millimeters per hour (mm/hr) cheesbrough, 2000)
Procedure:
1.
pipette
0.4ml of sodium citrate anticoagulant into a small container
2.
added
1.6ml of EDTA –anti-coagulated venous
blood and mixed well
3.
Using
a known suction method collected the prepared
blood into westergreen tube up to
the 0cm
mark avoiding air- bubbles.
4.
Inserted
the pipette into the ESR stand
and ensured it was positioned
vertically
5.
Left
to stand for 1 hour
6.
Read
off after 1 hour the clear plasma layer horizontally at eye level,
taken at mm/hr
3.11 packed red
cells (haematocrit)
3.11.1 method: microhaematocrit method
3.11.2 principle:
when EDTA anticoagulated blood in a microhaematocrit tube is spun at about 1200rpm for five minutes, the red cells pack at the bottom
leaving a buffy-coat layer and plasma on top. The PCV
values are read from a microhaematocit
reader
3.11.3 procedure:
1.
the
blood is mixed properly with the use of a roller mixer
2.
The
capillary tube is used to collect blood
by means of capillary
action
3.
The capillary tube is ¾
filled and the unfilled part is
heat sealed with flame
4.
The
tube is spun at 12000rpm for vive minutes using a microhaemtocrit centrifuge
5.
The
value is read using the haematocrit reader